Georgian Parliament Speaker urges Western donors to “oversee NGOs”, claims “fake perceptions” threaten election integrity

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has called on foreign donors to exercise stricter oversight of Georgian NGOs they support, accusing “opposition-linked groups and media” of creating “fake perceptions” of the election environment to undermine the legitimacy of the upcoming October 26 vote.

In his social media post, the official warned that donors’ responsibilities extend beyond providing financial support to ensuring accountability for the actions of these organisations.

Papuashvili alleged the “radical wing” of the opposition and its “affiliated” NGOs and media outlets had coordinated efforts to “mislead” international observers about the pre-election atmosphere.

He pointed to a recent interim report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), which described a “calm and competitive” environment, as evidence that claims of significant violations were unfounded. The Speaker argued that this report threatened the opposition’s attempts to “delegitimise” the election results.

The Speaker accused TV Pirveli, a broadcaster he linked to the opposition Lelo party, of spreading unsubstantiated allegations regarding the confiscation of ID documents by Georgian Dream officials. He also criticised President Salome Zourabichvili and the My Voice for Europe movement for repeating these claims “without evidence,” including accusations that schools had collected parental information ahead of the election, which he dismissed as misinformation.

The Speaker further alleged that organisations such as Transparency International Georgia and the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) were amplifying false narratives. He recalled similar accusations during the 2018 presidential election, when claims about fake ID card printing circulated.

Rejecting allegations of media harassment in the lead-up to the election, Papuashvili pointed to the ODIHR report’s finding of a polarised but harassment-free media environment. He criticised the Media Advocacy Coalition for condemning the National Communications Commission’s decision to fine opposition-leaning networks that refused to air Georgian Dream ads, accusing the networks of illegally blocking over five hours of ad airtime.

The Speaker argued that foreign-funded NGOs had overlooked these violations, instead advocating for free airtime for the For Georgia party, citing polling data from Edison Research, which he linked to wanted former Defence Minister David Kezerashvili.

Papuashvili also accused opposition factions of staging provocations to portray the electoral atmosphere as violent, citing alleged incidents of vandalism and confrontations involving opposition figures and media representatives. He warned that these actions echoed the strategy used during the 2020 elections to challenge the results.
Emphasising the need for responsible behaviour, the Speaker urged foreign donors to ensure the integrity of the organisations they support, stating, “Your responsibility extends beyond merely providing financial support; it also encompasses accountability for the integrity of these organisations.”